APYN wants YOUR ideas on MDGs!

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An opportunity for YOU to be part of an Asia Pacific-wide campaign on MDGs and its relationship with human rights

APYN wants YOUR ideas on the link between human rights and MDGs!

There is no right or wrong – we want YOUR views and ideas in answer of these five questions. Just fill in this form below!

This activity is now closed. You may sign up to receive updates on upcoming activities on the MDGs.

By submitting your views, you allow for the use of this information as outlined here

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

Although the MDGs have been very particular in issues such as gender equality, child care, diseases and environmental concerns, it remains shut off to the discussion of human rights issues. Though many countries have addressed the eight goals cited in the development plan, their actions remain futile as it has yet to reach the human rights standards. Although the MDGs hope to change the
world by 2015, it has yet to reach the people at the most basic level of society.

Millions of people continue to face a daily struggle to live in dignity. In 2000, countries around the world agreed to 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a global initiative to eradicate poverty by 2015. Ten years on – five years from the deadline – these goals are still not a reality. Progress has been made, but it has been unequal.

Why do the MDGs need to consider Human Rights?
The Millennium Development Goals are largely silent on human rights, and the targets they set are in some cases less than what states are already obligated to do under international law. For example, the MDGs contain no explicit requirement that states identify and address exclusion and discrimination. The targets and indicators for many of the goals do not acknowledge the variety of human rights factors that drive and deepen poverty. Integrating international human rights standards into MDG efforts could lead to more meaningful progress on the MDGs in the next five years. This would require that governments review all MDG initiatives and efforts to ensure their consistency with human rights; address discrimination experienced by women and other groups; set appropriate national targets, both in terms of levels of progress that should be achieved on particular issues and those prioritized; fulfil the right to participation; and strengthen mechanisms for accountability.

SO WHAT NOW?
This coming September marks 5 years until the deadline of the Millennium Development Goals. Hence, a special review summit is to be held in New York to study the progress of one the most widely supported development plans in the world that targets the alleviation of poverty. In response to the growing concern over the issue of human rights in the MDGs, the Asia Pacific Youth Network has come up with the Meet on MDGs. The campaign aims to gather the responses of the youth to five questions pertaining to the MDGs and collate these responses before September 25, 2010. It’s easy for you to get involved and include YOUR VOICE on the MDGs!

More info? Check out here: http://www.apyouth.net/2010/07/mdgs/

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO OUR RESPONSES?

APYN will collate the responses and use YOUth views to inform the best next steps for these ideas! These ideas include delivery opportunities to decision makers, creative tools development that we can all use and feeding the responses into other campaigns to add youth voices from the Asia Pacific. We may also include responses in other campaigns and actions such as the Amnesty International (((Demand Dignity))) campaign.